SB262: Bill Text

LRB-2076/1

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2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Senate BILL 262

October 2, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Grobschmidt, Plache, Burke and Robson, cosponsored by Representatives Sinicki, Krug, Black, Carpenter, La Fave, Young, Turner, Pocan, Ryba, Sykora, J. Lehman, Plale, Musser and Miller. Referred to Committee on Education.

SB262,1,4 An Act to create 20.255 (1) (dz), 20.255 (1) (gz) and 115.49 of the statutes; relating to: creating a loan program for teachers of mathematics, science and special education in the Milwaukee Public Schools and in low-income school districts, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill creates a loan program, to be administered by the department of public instruction (DPI), to defray the educational costs of Wisconsin residents who are enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program that prepares them to be licensed as teachers of mathematics, science, or special education. The maximum loan that a person may receive during any fiscal year may not exceed $10,000. After a loan recipient has completed his or her degree program, DPI must forgive 25% of the loan's principal and interest for the first fiscal year, 25% of the loan's principal and interest for the second fiscal year, and 50% of the loan's principal and interest for the third fiscal year that the loan recipient is licensed and employed full-time as a teacher of mathematics, science, or special education by the Milwaukee Public Schools or by a school district with a low-income pupil enrollment of 50%.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB262, s. 1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

SB262, s. 2 Section 2. 20.255 (1) (dz) of the statutes is created to read:

SB262,2,5 20.255 (1) (dz) Loan program for certain teachers of mathematics, science, and special education. The amounts in the schedule for the loan program under s. 115.49.

SB262, s. 3 Section 3. 20.255 (1) (gz) of the statutes is created to read:

SB262,2,8 20.255 (1) (gz) Teacher loan repayments. All moneys received as loan repayments under s. 115.49, for loans under s. 115.49.

SB262, s. 4 Section 4. 115.49 of the statutes is created to read:

SB262,3,2 115.49 Loan program for certain teachers of mathematics, science, and special education. (1) (a) The department shall establish a loan program to defray the cost of tuition, fees, and expenses for residents of this state enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program that prepares persons to be licensed as teachers of mathematics, science, or special education at an accredited institution of higher education in this state or in a physically adjacent state, as defined in s. 175.46 (1) (d). To the extent possible, the department shall give preference to persons who are likely to return to this state to work in the school district operating under ch. 119 or in a school district in which at least 50% of the pupils enrolled qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b).

SB262,3,6 (b) The department shall make loans under this section from the appropriations under s. 20.255 (1) (dz) and (gz). The maximum amount of a loan for a person during any fiscal year is $10,000. The maximum amount that a person may receive under this section is $40,000.

SB262,3,15 (2) (a) After the recipient of a loan under sub. (1) has completed the degree program described in sub. (1), the department shall forgive 25% of the loan's principal and interest for the first fiscal year, 25% of the loan's principal and interest for the 2nd fiscal year, and 50% of the loan's principal and interest for the 3rd fiscal year that the recipient is licensed and employed full-time as a teacher of mathematics, science, or special education by the school district operating under ch. 119 or by a school district in which at least 50% of the pupils enrolled qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b). The department may forgive loans on a prorated basis for persons employed less than full-time.

SB262,3,16 (b) The department shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

SB262,3,17 (End)